Not only does this not help Atlanta, it doesn't do much for the Lakers either. Pau hasn't been the problem this season. He's playing poorly, but replacing him with Josh Smith doesn't do anything but get Dwight a good friend. He won't fit into D'Antoni's system either.

That can't be right.

Lakers main problems are slow players and bad defense, Pau is poor at guarding forwards and too slow to guard them as well. Smith is a good defender and very good help defender.
Pau is slow and not much of a transition player these days, Smith could look really good running the floor with Nash instead of Pau.
These are also the reason Pau is the 6th man now, he plays so much better matched up with other centers, he deserves credit for that, he's playing better right now comming off the bench than at any point this year.

It's an added bonus that he's a very good friend of Dwight, it could give them both extra energy to play with each other.

Josh Smith is not going to be a Hawk next year and both sides know it. That's why the team is doing stuff like suspending him so he's the bad guy to the fans.

Lakers do this trade to shed salary but Smith is just a rental unless Dwight leaves. I believe the filler players will be very similar to this. LA needs a backup center and bench guard without taking on salary. ATL takes back Steve Blake and hopes he can contribute. Ebanks is a throw in for cheap depth. The main prize is obviously Gasol who would be a nice fit with Horford for a playoff run in the East.

I would be 100% sure of this trade if Lou Williams hadn't gone down. It'll be tough for ATL to trade Harris but seeing as he's a FA next year, I think the final deal could include him.

josh smith thinks he is a max player....

lo so u give howard max...and then Josh smith max....how much is left?